Question

Describe the setting of the short story “The Open Boat.” How does Stephen Crane accentuate the setting in his story? What is his purpose in drawing attention to the setting?

Answer 1

In the story, four men are cramped together in a small dinghy after the ship that they are traveling on has capsized. The men are at the mercy of the ocean. Stephen Crane accentuates this setting by mentioning that the men could be killed at any moment. The cook is forced to bail water out of the dinghy, while the oiler and the correspondent must row continuously to survive. Crane constantly mentions the ever-present chance of death the four men face by noting the never-ending waves, the water continuously filling the boat, and the flimsy paddles that could snap at any time. Stephen Crane’s purpose in drawing attention to the setting is to show the reader how people are helpless when at nature’s mercy. The saying “time and tide wait for no man” is true. People may try to conquer nature, but ultimately, all they do is survive nature. That is because nature is relentless and all-powerful. It doesn’t stop to judge the plight of a person and limit the force it exerts on that person.